Fire-alarm signal-box.



F. W. COLE.

FIRE ALARM SIGNAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. me.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

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FREDERICK W. COLE, 0F NEWTON HIGHLANDS, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIRE-ALARM SIGNAL-BO Application filed April 19, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, FREDERICK W. COLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newton Highlands, in the county of Middlesex and State. ofMassachusetts, have in vented an Improvement in Fire-Alarm Signal-Boxes,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fire alarm signal-boXes andparticularly to accessory means associated with the signaltransmitterdesigned for testing and for protecting the transmitter and other costlycomponents of the box. In signal-boxes of this description, of the moreadvanced type, it is desirable to provide switching-means adapted to beoperated by an inspector when the door is open, to electrically connectthe circuit-wires at both sides of the transmitter, thereby to shunt thetransmitter, to enable it to be tested without interrupting thsignal-circuit, and also admit of its removal and replacement; also toelectrically connect a ground branch circuit with the signaL circuit ateither side of the signal-transmitter, which connection may be made whenthe signal-circuit is broken to enable the signal-transmitter totransmit its signal over a ground-circuit while the broken line is beingrepaired; also to provide protectivemeans commonly known as a lightningarrester, which is associated with the leadingin wires, thereby toprotect the transmitter and other costly components of the box frominjury in case a heavy current should pass over the signal-circuit.

Heretofore various means have been provided. for accomplishing theseresults. Sometimes several independent switches aranged on an insulatingbase have been employed; sometimes switches involving the employment ofa switch-plug have been employed; but these various means are open tocertain objections, as for instance, one or more of the switches may beleft in wrong positions by the inspector with the result that the box iscut out or otherwise prevented from transmitting its signal over thesignal-circuit, or the switch-plug may be left in engaging position inthe'box, or the inspector may not have a switch-plug with him, or theswitch-plug may be placed in a wrong engaging-position by an unskilledinspector.

The present invention has for its object the provision of aswitchingdevice of a ro- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented eept. ill, 191W.

Serial No. 92,292.

tary character adapted to be operated when the door is open, to make amultiplicity of electrical connections, to accomplish the severalresults above referred to, as, for instance, in one position itelectrically connects the circuit-wires at both sides of thesignaltransmitter, thereby to shunt the transmittor, for testingpurposes or for the removal and replacement of the tnnsniitter; and whenin another position it electrically connects a ground branch circuitwith the signal-circuit at one side of the signal-transmitter, and whenin other positions it disengages the aforesaid electrical connections,these latter positions being termed the neutral positions of theswitching-device.

The present invention also involves the provision of three switchterminals, two for the leading-in wires of the signal-circuit, and onefor a ground branch circuit, and all of which are widely separated andequally spaced around a common center, and around which the movableswitch device revolves, and heavily insulated holding buttons arrangedin the spaces between the switch terminals; and also the provision ofcylindrical carbon jacketed lightning arrester posts connected with theleading-in wires and the ground branch terminals. Said posts, by their 7construction and close association, serve as a protecting-means for thesignaL transmitter in case a heavy current should pass over thesignal-circuit, as those posts which are connected to the line arewidely separated from each other, but lie very close to the groundedpost which is arranged between them.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a switching-means involving thisinvention, associated with a signal-box, which latter is shown indiagram.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the switchingmeans.

F ig. 3 is the bottom plan view of the switching-means.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the rotating snitch-member.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are fragmentary views of the elements of theswitchingdevice in di-Jferent positions.

The signal-box illustrated in diagram, Fig. 1, comprises essentially asignal-wheel 1, a pivoted key-lever 2, a signal-key 3,

composed of two resilient contact-members adapted to be operated by thekey-lever, a non-interterence magnet 4:, a shunt-circuit closer 5adapted to be operated by the keylever, and also to be controlled bysome component part of the box-mechanism, and a shunt circuit-closer 6adapted to be controlled by the box door.

The component parts of the box thus briefly described are common in thattype of fire-alarm signal-box known as the Gamewell box. Electricallyconnected with said component parts and with the signal-circuit is mynewly invented switching-means and lightning-arrester. The rotaryelement of. the switching-means consists of a rotatable spindle 10,extended through an insulated base having a shouldered shank or knob 12above said base for turning it, and a spring-acting disk-member 13 belowsaid base tending to hold said spindle frictionally in any position itmay be set.

A two-armed member, here shown as a plate, the arms 15 and 16 of whichare angularly related to each other, is fixed on the spindle, to beturned by it., The arms of said plate occupy substantially the sameplane, and they extend radially from the spindle but in differentdirections, being spaced approximately 120 apart.

Arranged in circular formation about said spindle or concentric of theaxis thereof are three stationarily supported contact-plates 20, 30, and40, forming the stationary'elements of the switching-means. The plate 20has an attaching-portion 21 with laterally projecting ears 22, which arebent upward and inward, in circular formation, within the upper one ofwhich a circuit wire 24 is soldered, which connects to the signalcontacts of the transmitter, and said plate isfixed to the base-plate bythe bindingpost 23, ,to which one ofthe leading-in wires of' thesignalcircuit is connected. The plate has an attaching-portion 31 withlaterally projecting ears 32, which are bent upward and inward incircular formation, in the upper one of which a circuit wire 3 1 issoldered which leads to the non-interference magnet of the transmitter,and said plate fixed to the base-plate by a bindingpost 33,.to which oneof the leading-in wires of the signal-circuit is connected. The lowercar 22 of plate 20 is connected by a conductor 25, with a carbon post50, which is positioned in close proximity to a like carbon post 55, ongroundplate 4:0. The lower car 32 of the plate 30 is connected by aconductor 35, with the carbon post 51, which is postioned in closeproximity to a like carbon post- 54, mounted onground plate a0. Theplates20,30, and i0 are equidistantly disposed, being spaced apart about120, corresponding to the spacing of the arms 15 and 16, of therotatable twoarmed member, and the spaces between said plates are ofgreater width than that of the arms. Said plates 20, 30, and 40 occupysubstantially the same plane, and enter the path of movement of the arms15 and 16, sufficiently to engage said. arms as they are moved overthem. hen the spindle 10 is turned into one of its numerous positions,said arms 15 and 16 will engage plates 30 and 20, see Fig. 6, and thuselectrically connect the circuitwires at both sides of thesignal-transmitter, shunting the transmitter, and admitting of itsoperation without transmitting its signal over the signal-circuit, andalso providing for its removal and replacement without opening thecircuit. The plate d0 has an attaching-portion 11, and is secured to thebase-plate by a binding-post 52, and a leading-in wire from a groundbranch circuit is connected with said binding post.

lVhen the spindle bearing the twoarmed plate is turned into another ofits numerous positions, one of the arms thereof, as 16, will engage theplate 40, and the other arm, as 15, will engage the plate 30, see Fig.7, thus electrically connecting the ground branch circuit with thesignal-circuit at one side of the signal-transmitter, and when saidspindle is turned into still another of its numerous positions, saidtwo-armed plate is turned, and one of its arms,.as 16, will engage theplate 40, and'the other arm, as 15,

will engage the plate 20, see Fig. 5, thus electrically connecting theground branch circuit with the signal-circuitat the other side of thesignal-transmitter.

The switching-means thus described has provision for three sepa atecircuit-closing positions asdescribed for the accomplishment of theresults above set forth, but it also has positions intermediate theaforesaid positions, in which intermediate positions the two-armedmember disengages the stationary plates, and in Fig. 1, one of suchintermediate positions is shown. It is dessigned and intended that theswitching means shall be normally disposed in one of these intermediateor neutral positions, and arranged on the base-plate between the severalpositions adapted to be occupied by the rotatable switching-member, areseveral studs which serve to assist in correctly locating the arms ofthe rotatable member with respect to the stationary-plates and also withrespect to their neutral positions.

As a reminder to call attention to an inspector, that the rotatableswitch-member has been left in the position shown in Fig. 6, in whichpositionv the signal-transmit ter is prevented from sending its signalover the signal-circuit, means are here in provided for preventing theclosing of the door,.if said. switch-member is left in such position,which, as here shown, consists in a blade 60, arranged on the inside ofthe door 70, which blade is adapted to enter a transverse slot 61,formed in the head of the knob 12, on the spindle 10. Unless the knob isinsuch position as to register with the blade on the door, said bladewill strike the head of the knob, and the door cannot be closed.Whenever the blade occupies a position in this slot, the rotatableswitch-member is in one of its intermediate or neutral positions, asrepresented in Fig. 1, except as hereinafter set forth. When therotatable switch-member is turned to coact with the switclrplates 20 and4:0, see Fig. 5, or 30, and 40, ,see Fig. 7, thus to connect the groundbranch circuit with the signal-circuit at one or the other side of thesignal-transmitter, it is important that the rotatable switch-menu bershall remain in these respective positions when the door is closed, sothat the box will be left connected with the ground branch circuit andin condition for sending its signal over the grounded circuit in casethe signal-circuit is broken, and until such break is repaired.Therefore, the head of the knob 12 has another slot 65, which is adaptedto receive the blade 60. Upon reference to Fig. 5, it will be observedthat the slot 65 is in position to receive the blade 60, when the dooris closed; but when the switch-member is moved into the position shownin Fig. 7, which is its other ground connected position, it will beobserved that the slot 61 is again utilized to receive the lug 60, whenthe door is closed.

It is obvious that slight changes may be made .in the structure of theswitchingmeans here shown and described, and also of theprotecting-means, without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim 1. A signal-box having a signal-transmitter adapted forconnection with an electric circuit, switching-means for electricallycon necting the circuit-wires at each side of the transmitter to form ashunt, said'switchingmeans consisting of a pair of spaced contactmembersadapted for electrical connection with the circuit-wires at each side ofthe transmitter, a rotatable two-armed contactmember adapted formovement into and out of engagement with said contact-plates, the armsof said contact-member being spaced apart, and means arranged on theinside of the door coacting with said rotatable member to permit closingof the door when member is in disengaged position and to preventcontact-plate, and a pair of stationary contact-plates arrangedconcentrically to the axis of rotation of the two-armed plate, saidstationary plates being connected with the circuit-wires at each side ofthe transmitter, and widely spaced apart, and the arms of said twoarmedplate being spaced apart, and insulated studs arranged in the spacesadjacent the stationary contact plates for engagement with the arms ofthe rotatable contact plate, tending to maintain said arms in disengagedpositions.

3. A signal-box having a signal transmitter adapted for connection withan electric circuit, switchingmeans for electrically connecting thecircuit-wires at each side of the transmitter to form a shunt, saidmeans consisting of a rotatable two-armed contact-plate having a turningknob, a pair of stationary contact-plates having attaching-portions withbinding-posts thereon for connection with the circuit-wires at each sideof the transmitter, said stationary plates being arranged concentric tothe axis of rotation of the two-armed plate, and spaced apart, and thearms of the two-armed plate being angularly related, and insulated studsarranged in the spaces adjacent the stationary contact plates forengagement with the arms of the rotatable contact plate, tending tomaintain said arms in disengaged positions.

4. A signal-box having a signal-transmitter adapted for connection withan electric circuit, switching-means for electrically connecting thecircuit-wires at each side of the transmitter to form a shunt, saidmeans cons'isting of a pair of contact-members adapted for electricalconnection with the circuitwires at each side of the transmitter, and arotatable two-armed member adapted for movement into and out ofengagement with said contact plates, a spindle bearing said two-armedmember having a turning knob with a transverse slot, and an abutmentarranged on the inside of the door adapted to enter said slot when theknob is in a prede termined position, thus permitting closing of thedoor, and when said knob is in another position to form an obstructionto prevent closing said door.

5. A signal-box having a signal-transmitter adapted for connection withan electric circuit, switching-means for electrically connecting thecircuit-wires at each side of the transmitter to form a shunt, saidmeans consisting of a rotatable two-armed contactplate, a pair of widelyseparated stationary contact-plates adapted for connection withthecircuit-wires at each side of the transmitter with which saidtwo-armed plate coacts, a pair of carbon jacketed posts, and conductorsconnecting said jacketed posts with the stationary contact-plates, and aground branch terminal connected to simi lar carbon jacketed postsarranged between and in close relation to the circuit wire terminals.

6. A signal-box having a signal-transmitter adapted for connection witha signal circuit, switchingmeans for electrically connectingthe-circuit-wires at each side of the transmitter to form a shunt, saidmeans comprising a movable. member and a pair of stationarycontact-plates, spaced apart and adapted for connection withthecircuitwires at each side of thetransmitter with which said movablemember is-adapted tocoact, a pair of carbon jacketed posts for theleading-in wires of the signal-circuit, and conductors connecting saidbindingposts to the stationary contact-plates.

7. A signal-box having a signal-transmitter adaptedfor connection with asignal circuit, switching-means for electrically connecting thecircuit-wires at each side of the transmitter to form a shunt, saidmeans comprising a movable member and a pair of stationarycontact-plates spaced apart and adapted for connection with thecircuitwires at each side of the transmitter with which said movablemember is adapted to coact, a pair of carbon jacketed posts for theleading-in wires of the signal-circuit, conductors connecting saidjacketed posts to the stationary contact plates, and a ground branchterminal carbon jacketed post arranged between said binding-posts and inclose proximity thereto;

8. A signal-box having a signal-transmitter adapted for connection witha signalcircuit, switching-means for electrically connecting thecircuit-wires at each side'of the transmitter to form a shunt, saidmeans comprising a movable member and a pair of stationarycontact-plates spaced apart and adapted for connection with thecircuitwires at each side of the transmitter with which said movablemember is adapted to coact,- a pair of carbon jacketed posts for theleading-in wires of the signal-circuit, conductors connecting saidbinding-poststo the stationary contact-plates, and a stationary platewith a binding-post thereon adapted to be connected with a ground branchcircuit and carbon jacketed posts arranged thereon and in closeproximity to and between the aforesaid posts connected to the terminalsfor the circuit wires.

9; A signal-box having a signal-transmitter adapted for connection witha signalcircuit, switching-meansfor electrically connecting thecircuit-wires at each side of the transmitter to form a shunt, and forcon-i necting a ground branch circuit with either of said circuit-wlres,said switchlng-means comprising a rotatable bridging-member, a

pair of stationary contact-plates electrically connected-with thecircuit-wires at eaclrside of the transmitter, a stationarycontact-plate adapted for electrical connection with a ground branchcircuit, said stationary con-- tact-plates being arranged about the axisof rotation of the bridging member and spaced equally apart, saidbridging member being adapted for coaction with any two adjacentcontact-plates only.

10. A signal-box having a signal-transmitter adapted for connection withan electric circuit, switching-means for electrically connecting thecircuit-wires at each side of the transmitter to form a shunt, and forconnecting a ground branch circuit with either of said circuit-wires,said switchingmeans comprising a rotatable two-armed contact-member, apair of stationary contact-members electrically connected with thecircuit-wires at each side of the transmitter, and a stationarycontact-member adapted for connection with a ground branch circuit, saidstationary contact-members being arranged concentrically to the axis ofrotation of the two-armed member, and equidistantly separated, and thearmsof said twoarmed member, being angularly related to each other. 1

11. A signal-box having a signal-transmitter adapted for connectionwithan electric circuit, switching-means for electrically connecting thecircuit-wires at each side of the transmitter to form a shunt and forconnecting a ground branch circuit witheither of said circuit-wires,said switchingsmeans comprising a rotatable two-armed contactplate, apair of stationary contact-plates electrically connected with thecircuit-wires at each side of the transmitter, and a stationarycontact-plate adapted for connection with a ground branch circuit, saidstationary contact-plates being arranged concentrically to the axis ofrotation of the twoarmed plate and equidistantly separated, the spacesbetween said stationary plates being wider than the arms of thetwo-armed plate.

12. A signal-box having a signal-transmitter adapted for connection withan electric circuit, switching-means for electrically connecting thecircuit-wires at eachside of the transmitter to form a shunt and'forconnecting a ground branch circuit with either of said circuit-wires,said switching-means comprising a rotatable two-armed contactplate, apair of stationary contact-plates electrically connected with thecircuit wires at each side of the transmitter, and a stationarycontact-plate adapted for connectionwith a ground branch circuit, saidstamitter adapted for connection with a signaLcircuit, switching-meansfor electrically connecting the circuit-Wires at each side of thetransmitter to form a shunt, and for connecting a ground branch circuitwith either of said circuit-Wires, said switchingmeans comprising arotatable bridgingmember, a pair of stationary contact-plateselectricallyiconnected with the circuit-wires at each side of thetransmitter, a stationary contact-plate adapted for electricalconnection with the ground branch circuit, said stationarycontact-plates being arranged about the axis of rotation of thebridgingmember and spaced apart, said bridgingmember being adapted forcoaction with any tWo adjacent contact-plates, and having a turningmember With slots, and an abutment on the inside of the door adapted-toenter either of said slots and thereby permit closing of the door whenthe turning member is in predetermined positions, and in otherpositions, to form an obstruction to prevent closing of the door.

14. A signal-box having a signal-transmitter adapted for connection witha signalcircuit, switching-means for electrically connecting thecircuit-wires at each side of the transmitter to form a shunt, and forconnecting a ground branch circuit with either of said circuit-Wires,said switchingmeans comprising a rotatable bridgingmember, a pair ofstationary contact-plates electrically connected with the circuit-wiresat each side of the transmitter, a stationary contact-plate adapted forelectrical connection with the ground branch circuit, said stationarycontact-plates being arranged about the axis of rotationof thebridgingmember and spaced apart, said bridgingmember being adapted forcoaction with any two adjacent contact-plates, and having aturning-member, and means arranged on the inside of the door coactingwith said turning-member to permit closing of the door when saidturning-member is in certain positions to prevent closing of the doorwhen in other positions.

15. A signal-box having a signal-transmitter adapted for connection witha signal-circuit, switching-means for electrically connecting thecircuit-wires at each side of the transmitter to form a shunt, and forconnecting a ground branch circuit with either of said circuit-wires,said switchingmeans comprising a rotatable bridgingmember, a pair ofstationary contact-plates electrically connected With the circuit-wiresat each side of the transmitter, a stationary contact-plate adapted forelectrical connection with the ground branch circuit, said stationarycontact-plates being arranged about the axis of rotation of the bridgingmember and spaced apart, said bridgingmember being adapted for coactionwith any two adjacent contact-plates, Widely separated binding-posts towhich the leading-in wires of the signal-circuit are connected, carbonjacketed posts electrically connected with said stationary plates and towhich the circuit-wires are connected, a binding-post on the stationaryplate to which the leading-in Wire connected With the ground branchcircuit is connected, and a carbon jacketed post on said last-namedplate arranged in the spaces between the aforesaid jacketed posts and inclose proximity thereto.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification,in'the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK l/V. COLE.

Witnesses:

CLYDE B. MORGAN, STANLEY S. KNOWLEs.

(iopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

